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Marine Corps Leaders, Education Officials Present Scholarships

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2010  Marine Corps and education leaders presented scholarships during a special ceremony here yesterday to 25 sons and daughters of Marines killed or wounded in combat.

Dalton M. Berrie, a college student at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., accepts the 5th Marine Division Scholarship from Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos in the Library of Congress, Sept. 14, 2010. Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent stands at left and Margaret B. Davis, president and chief executive officer of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, stands on the right. Since 1962, the foundation has provided more than 25,000 scholarships. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob D. Osborne(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Marine Corps Assistant Commandant Gen. James F. Amos and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent took part in presenting the scholarships at the Library of Congress’ Great Hall during the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s 2010 announcement reception.

“This scholarship has made it possible for me to only take one small student loan, which is amazing,” said Dalton M. Berrie, recipient of the 5th Marine Division Scholarship and a student at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Berrie, who will be studying to obtain a doctorate and to conduct tissue engineering research, said he went to the foundation in memory of his grandfather, Maj. Kendal B. Prettyman, who served on Iwo Jima.

This year, the foundation provided 1,423 scholarships worth $4.25 million, said Margaret B. Davis, president and CEO of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Since 1962, the foundation has provided more than 25,000 scholarships worth more than $60 million.

Retired Marine Corps Gen. Robert Magnus, chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, said the reception recognized the scholarship recipients “as they embark on their own journey, discovering and learning.”

“There is no finer thing that we can do for them but to take care of their children,” he added.

Alyssa Blazer, an Oklahoma City Community College student and Heroes Tribute Scholarship recipient, lost her father, Staff Sgt. Melvin L. Blazer, while he was serving in Fallujah, Iraq, on Dec. 12, 2004. “Although the circumstances aren’t the best,” she said, “it lets me know I’m taken care of.” She said she is aiming to work for NASA as a microbiologist.

“Access to higher education is the main priority of this foundation,” said Scott D. Pearson of the Education Department’s office of innovation and improvement.“The foundation wants to ensure every military child gets an education.”

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9/16/2010 5:00:54 PM
A wonderful thing for the students and their families and the Corps. Note - from an editor's point of view, the first paragraph should be rewritten to avoid implying combat took place at the reception. - Bill Hudgins, Nashville TN